"So...this is it"
The girl huffed. In her sixteen years of life, not once had Anna missed her bed more than now. After almost three hours of learning how to apply a face cream properly, she forced her legs to run from her house to the gate of the village--where a huge field of tall grass stretched from the first watchtower to the nearest ranger's home.
And now, trying her best to calm her huffing chest, Anna slowly walked toward the mob in front of her. A group of teenagers her age was chatting and squirming like a flock of starving doves, waiting for the Viscount to arrive.
"Oh...are you also here for the contest, Anna?~"
A womanly voice emerged from the buzz, a tone that Anna knew too well. A girl in a bright-green dress strolled toward her with open arms. The golden brooch perched on her neckline shifted gently with each step.
"Yes,"
Trying her best to catch her breath, she halted on her tracks. The plain-white dress she'd spent weeks preparing might depend on it. She wouldn't want to appear before the Viscount with messy hair, or worse--a giant wet mark around her armpit.
"Hmmm... Anna?"
"Yes?"
Flinched at Clara's question, she tried to avert her gaze--a cue that she was sure had been noticed by Clara.
"Hmmm...you look confused. Let me show you the way...Come"
Feeling a pull on her wrist, she let Clara's hand guide her through the crowd. The scent of dry leaves and a hint of jasmine grew stronger the deeper she walk, while she tried to best to keep her steady pace--afraid more sweat would form on her forehead. Until the grip on her hand disappeared, and they stood side by side at exactly the heart of the mob.
"Wait Clara...aren't we...supposed to...stand in the front?
Clara closed her mouth, hearing her question--an attempt to hid her chuckle
"Gosh no...it's too bold Anna--way too bold. Trust me, i know how noble behave, just..follow my lead, okay?"
"Haaah..."
Thinking back, her relationship with Clara had always been like this. She would be the toy, and Clara stand at the end of the rope, taking her whenever her heart want.
Heck she might be the one who threw the sheet of paper from her window, with words written in black ink that said :
'A Search for Personal Maid'.
"ANNA... ANNA"
A shock on her shoulder jolted her.
"What?"
"Look"
Following Clara's hand, Anna turned towards the horizon, past the wooden village gate. A soft clacking of iron slowly crept from the distance, followed by a silhouette of black box mounted on top of a circle. It wasn't until it got closer that her eyes finally got a clear view of the head of the caravan--her body froze in an instant.
A pair of animals strapped to the front of the carriage--body of a wolf, but larger, with sharp teeth and black spikes running along its hunched back.
"What the f*ck is that..."
Clara whispered, so close her breath brushed against Anna's auricle.
As the carriage moved past the wooden gate, the crowds that were once full of life, now stood as lifeless as dead crops--only the creaking sound of wheels could be heard.
Then finally, the carriage halted.
Thud
A middle-aged man jumped from the driver's seat. Then, with a steady step, he walked to the other side of the carriage, hidden from Anna's field of vision. Losing their owner, the pair of beasts let out a low growl, the glint in their eyes sending another shiver down Anna's spine.
Creak
Thud
Another set of boots hit the ground. Clara, whose hand clutched tightly around Anna's finger, began sending a sharp pain down her arm, enough for her to pull her eyes towards Clara--the girl stood clueless beside her. Then when she glanced back to the front, the pair of boots under the carriage had gone.
'Where?'
A figure slipped past the back of the carriage, a step too light for a grown man--small stature, not taller than her fourteen-year-old brother, wearing a black leather coat that swept to the ground, parting the grass as he walked.
'A...A boy?'
Anna frowned. The crowds also shared her unrest. A couple of murmurs, low at first, then turned into whispers as time went by--some began looking left and right, searching for a non-existent answer.
"Is this all?"
The boy asked. The crowds stopped, while the old man lowered his head slightly to the front.
"Yes, my lord"
"Hmmmm"
Stroking his chin, the boy began to stroll through the crowds. Anna could only follow the trail left by the boy's coat, while she tried her best to keep her spine as straight as possible--locking her posture in a perfect position. Luckily, the fear that managed to grip her heart earlier had faded, overlapped by a chance to see the life of a noble.
And if she wasn't chosen, she would go home with open arms and-
'Hmmm... '
A pair of dark, wet pearls locked straight onto her.
"You"
'Me?'
A second finger pointed right beside her.
"And you"
'Hmmm?'
"You two...step forward"
Hearing the old man's command, Anna threw a quick glance at Clara--they both nodded. Then, she pulled her feet forward. With each step she took, more and more gazes assaulted her back, boring deeper inside her skull until they stood a few meters before the young noble--like lamb waiting for slaughter.
"What's your name?"
"A...Anna"
His dark pupils shifted to Clara.
"And you?"
"Clara"
"Hmmm...Clara..." The young noble once again stroked his chin "...Oh I know Clara. The twin flower of Berthans, I would love to take you both as my maid but..."
A pause. Anna followed the boy's eyes, leading to the carriage that parked a few meters from where they stood.
"I can give you to my fiance' though"
The boy said, looking at both of them with an innocent smile. Yet, Anna swore she could see a slight glint in the corner of boy's eyes.
"Fiance'..."
Like a knife through butter, the word easily rolled off Anna's tongue.
"You said something?"
"N...No, my lord"
"Alright. Now... follow me"
Led by the kid, the three of them began their march, leaving the crowds behind. Little did Anna know, today marked the beginning of her journey, and the many tribulations in between.